Indian TV claims to expose umpires

An Indian television channel, following a sting operation, has claimed to have exposed several first-class umpires from three countries who were allegedly willing to fix matches and provide inside information on players for money.

The sting was broadcast on Monday evening by India TV, the same channel that had revealed alleged corrupt practices by five Indian domestic players earlier this year.

The television channel showed video clips purportedly taken by their undercover reporters in which the umpires were shown to be allegedly willing to give certain decisions for a fee.

The six umpires who were purportedly shown in the sting are Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui of Pakistan, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, and Gamini Dissanayake, Maurice Winston and Sagara Gallage of Sri Lanka.

The Channel showed visuals of its undercover reporters with the umpires, some of whom are purportedly making promises to give favourable decisions in lieu of financial benefits.

According to the channel, Shah offered to give decisions like "out", "not out" in any format of the game. He has officiated in 40-plus ODIs, six Test matches as TV umpire and three Tests as reserve umpire.

Ghauri, according to the Channel, agreed to help Team India in all ways. As a quid pro quo, he agreed to take all amounts underhand in "black". He has stood in 43 ODIs, 14 Test matches and four T20 matches.

Gallage, a Sri Lankan premier panel umpire who was the fourth umpire at India-Pakistan T20 WC match on September 17, agreed to give information on the match pitch report, weather and even the playing elevens of both teams for a payment of Rs 50,000 according to the channel.

Ghauri and Shah have rubbished the allegations while Bangladesh Cricket Board President Mustafa Kamal said it will investigate the matter after getting the details.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board president, Mustafa Kamal, however, has said that their Board will investigate the matter after getting the details. "I came to know about it from the media... So I am not in a position to make any comment. But if the allegations are true, we will definitely investigate the matter," Kamal said.